Family 'gravely concerned' about captured Rochester journalist James Foley

Thursday

Jan 3, 2013 at 1:47 PMJan 3, 2013 at 3:13 PM

ROCHESTER — The parents of a journalist who has been missing in Syria since he was kidnapped more than a month ago are pleading for his captors to contact them.

By Jim Haddadinjhaddadin@fosters.com

ROCHESTER — The parents of a journalist who has been missing in Syria since he was kidnapped more than a month ago are pleading for his captors to contact them.

At a press conference outside their home Thursday, John and Diane Foley said they are "gravely concerned" about the health, welfare and safety of their son James, a freelance journalist who was covering the Syrian conflict.

The family announced yesterday that James Foley was kidnapped in northwest Syria by unknown gunmen on Thanksgiving day. The family appealed to those holding Foley to contact them “so we can work together toward his release.”

Foley's parents reiterated that message Thursday, saying their son is an "objective reporter" who decided to cover the conflict in Syria because he is passionate about telling the stories of people in war-torn areas.

"I ask his captors for their compassion and for James' quick release," Foley's father said, speaking outside the family's home on Victoria Circle, a white building with green shutters and wreaths in the windows.

Noel Clay, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said federal officials are aware of Foley's disappearance, and are working through the Czech Republic to try to gather information on his whereabouts. The Czech Republic serves as the “protecting power” for the United States in Syria, where the country does not have diplomatic relations.

"Obviously, we’re concerned about this journalist’s safety and well-being, but because of privacy concerns, we have nothing further to add at this time," Clay said.

Foley, 39, has worked in a number of conflict zones around the Middle East, including Syria, Libya and Iraq.

While covering the hostilities in Libya, Foley and other journalists were taken captive by forces loyal to the government and later released.

Most recently, Foley was contributing videos to Agence France-Press while in Syria.

Foley grew up in Wolfeboro and graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in 1990. He later earned an undergraduate degree in history and graduate degree in journalism.